New York City’s Offshore Wind Terminal Under Construction

June 11, 2024, by Adrijana Buljan

Construction work on turning the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) in New York City into an offshore wind hub started on 10 June. The SBMT redevelopment is being performed by Equinor, in cooperation with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and terminal operator Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SSBMT).

Equinor, the owner/developer of the Empire Wind 1 project which recently received the green light to start construction, and the SBMT partners held a groundbreaking ceremony which was also attended by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Congressman Dan Goldman, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and CEO Doreen Harris, and Executive Director of UPROSE Elizabeth Yeampierre.

“Today’s groundbreaking at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is a defining moment for Empire Wind 1 and for the long-term renewable energy ambitions of New York State and beyond,” said Molly Morris, President of Equinor Renewables Americas, at the ceremony on 10 June.

“This construction will result in union jobs and local economic benefits while supporting a project that will deliver homegrown power to New Yorkers and position the state as a leader in the advancing offshore wind industry.”

Earlier this year, Equinor signed a Project Labor Agreement for the construction of SBMT that includes more than 1,000 union jobs in Brooklyn.

Once completed, SBMT will be one of the largest dedicated offshore wind hubs in the United States, Equinor says. The terminal will support the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind farm, Equinor’s first US offshore wind project, as well as future projects on the US East Coast.

The 73-acre (around 29.5 hectares) hub will become a staging and pre-assembly site for wind turbine components for Empire Wind 1 and will include an onshore substation to connect the 810 MW offshore wind farm to the Gowanus substation.

Empire Wind 1 is the first offshore wind project to connect directly to the New York City grid.

SBMT will also be home to Empire Wind 1’s long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) base, which includes a control room that measures turbine data and monitors the project around-the-clock.

The terminal is being developed as a low-emissions facility, with solar power and EV charging stations installed onsite, according to Equinor.

The 810 MW Empire Wind 1 offshore wind farm will comprise 54 Vestas 15 MW wind turbines and is expected to produce first power in late 2026.